Fire-alarm-telegraph system



- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shet 1.

G. A. ROLFE.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. No. 834,671. Patented Feb. 26, 1895.

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4 Sheets-Sheet B F L O R A 0 FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

Patented Feb. 26, 1895.

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(E0 Modem. Q 7 E Sheets-Sheet 3. C. A. ROLFE; FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPHSYSTEM. No. 634,671. I Patgnted Feb. 26,1895;

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(No'ModeL) 0. A. ROLPE.

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FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

-Pt a %Pgb 26 1895 CHARLES A. ROLFE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Fl RE-ALARM-TELEG RAPH SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 534,671, dated February26, 1895.

Application filed April 10, l 894- Serial No. 506,998. (No model.)

T or whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. ROLFE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Alarm-TelegraphSystems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire-alarm telegraph systems comprising meanswhereby the signal-transmitting mechanism of a street-box can be startedby a person within a neighboring building.

In a fire-alarm telegraph system characterized by my invention, Iprovide in connection with means suitable for releasing thesignaltransmitting mechanism, a normally closed auxiliary or housecircuit including a local or house alarm, a battery, and one or moremagneto-generators. When the signal-transmitting mechanism is wound upand set, the said auxiliary circuit will be closed, and when thusclosed, the battery will serve to maintain the local or house-alarm,inactive. Said battery is not of sufficient strength to operate themeansemployed for releasing the signaltransmitting mech anism,althoughsaid means will be subject to the battery. In the event of a fire withina neighboring building supplied with this system, it will only benecessary for a person within the building to slightly operate themagneto-electric generator, whereupon an impulse of high electromotiveforce will be sent over the normally closed circuit, and this, asauxiliary or supplemental to the battery, will actuate the meansemployed for releasing the signal trans mitting mechanism. Thereupon,the signal transmitting mechanism will start up, and while sending insignals over the main line to the fire-department will also repeat backto the house alarm, whereby, local notification will be made of the factthat the signaltransmitting mechanism is in order and properly working.When the signal-transmitting mechanism has run down, the auxiliarycircuit will be left open, and so long as the said auxiliary circuit isin such condition, the alarm will continue to sound, unless manuallyarrested, that is to say-arrested by the act of a person. As soon asdesired, however, the converse of said act can be employed for thepurpose of again placing the alarm in condition for operation, and if atsuch time the signal-transmitting mechanism should be wound up and set,the alarm will remain inactive, While on the other hand, should theauxiliary circuit be open, either as a result of accidental rupture, orby reason of an emission to wind up and set the signal-transmittingmechanism, the local alarm will sound and give notice of such fact.Also, should the local battery give out, or should the line of theauxiliary circuit be broken by any cause whatsoever, the local or housealarm will sound and thereby give notice that the system needsattention. When the signaltransmitti-ng mechanism is manually started,

all local or house alarms in the local system will sound, thereby givinglocal notice of the existence of a tire.

While a battery could be arranged as an auxiliary source of energy, inlieu of the magneto-generator, I regard the provision of the latter as amatterot' further and decided improvement.

The provision of a magneto-generator is also far more economical, sincewith such arrangement, I need only employ a compara tively light localbattery for the purpose hereinbefore first described.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is in the nature of a diagrammaticillustration of a system embodying the principles of my invention. Fig.2 isa similar view, more fully illustrating one of themagnetogenerators. Fig. 3 is a like view with a diflerent constructionof signal-transmitting mechanism. Fig;

4 represents one of the magneto-generators in end elevation. Fig. 5illustrates the local or house alarm having an operating spring. Fig. 6illustrates the local or house alarm arranged to be operated from thebattery of the normally closed auxiliary circuit. Fig. 7 indicates glassrods which can be placed at opposite sides of the crank of themagneto-generator, whereby said crank cannot be turned without breakingone of the rods.

In the several figures of the said drawings,

A indicates a street signal-box which is understood to comprise anyknown or suitable signal transmitting mechanism for sending fire-alarmsignals to the main or central station. With reference to my invention,the

signal transmitting mechanism is associated with certain adjuncts whichmay be mechanically varied without departing from the general purposefor which they are provided, and while not deeming it essential toillustrate and describe all mechanical possibilities, I have indicatedtwo arrangements as illustrative of the principle involved. Withreference to Figs. 1 and 2, the usual crank or lever 1 of the signaltransmitting mechanism can be temporarily locked by a weighted catch ]3which is pivoted at 2 and adapted to engage and hold said lever and tosuch end it has a hook-shaped portion 2 which can engage a stud 2 onsaid lever. When the armature 8 of magnet O is away from the latter,'itwill be in position to prevent catch B from swinging in a direction torelease its hook-portion from the lever 1, it being seen that in suchposition the armature serves as a stop. When however the armature isdrawn toward the magnet, it will clear and release the catch, whereuponthe latter, which is weighted as at 4, will swing in a direction toliberate lever 1. of the signal transmitting mechanism and therebypermit such mechanism to operate. The armature, when 'thns attracted, ismoved against any suitable arrangement of weight or spring resistance,for example, against the resistance of a spring 5. In Fig. 3, thearmature 6, of magnet O, is subject to a spring 7, for the same purpose.When said armature 6 is drawn toward the magnet, it will move a pivotedcatch 8 in a direction to cause said catch to release a toothed wheel 9of the signal transmitting mechanism and thereby leave the latter freeto operate.

The signal transmitting proper need not be described in detail, since itmay be of any ordinary or desired construction, arranged and connectedup for transmitting signals, as usual, it being observed that in Fig. 3,the main line is indicated at 14.

In Fig. 1, the lines 10, are understood to illustrate the several floorsof a building. One or more magneto generators D of any suitableconstruction can be arranged within the building, for example, one oneach floor, or otherwise as may be preferred, it being un derstood thatone or more of such sources of energy can be used, according to need.The generator or generators thus employed, is or are connected up inclosed circuit with'the magnet of the signal transmitting mechanism.Said circuit (herein termed the auxiliary or house circuit) alsoincludes a battery E and a safety or local alarm'device F, which istermed the local or house alarm. The alarm device F is desirably withinthe building which is to be protected, it being understood that forconvenience of illustration, the building is illustrated on a smallscale, while the alarm device is shown on a comparatively larger scale,and outside of the building. The local battery E could be located at thesignal box, but in practice, I prefer arranging it within the building.

The local or house alarm E can be of varied construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the principle involved, beingillustrated by the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. In said arrangement, thearmature 11 allotted to magnet 11 is provided with a clapper 12 forringing the bell 13. This bellmagnet 11 is included in the aforesaidnormally closed auxiliary circuit, indicated by lines or wires 14, andis normally energized to an extent to hold the armature closed. Saidarmature is also comprised within a normally open circuit indicated bylines or wires 15 and including the local bell-battery 16. So long ascircuit 14 is closed, the alarm F will be silent. When however, saidcircuit is open, the bell of the alarm F will be rung. Thus, whenarmature 11 is released as the result of a break in circuit 14, themagnet 11 will be de-energized, and will release the armature 11*, andhence, so long as said circuit remains open, the armature will be freeto operate for the purpose of ringing the bell, in accordance with theway in which electric alarm bells are usually sounded. The releasementof the armature permits its spring to throw it into contact with aback-stop 17 in circuit 15. Such contact closes the circuit 15,whichincludes the magnet 11 and the battery 16, and hence, the magnet willthen be supplied from said battery for the purpose of operating thearmature. The local alarm also comprises a switch G arranged in thecircuit 15, whereby the ringing of the bell can be stopped, although thecircuit 14 may be open.

The magneto-generator may be of any suitable construction and can beoperated by a crank or lever 18. In Fig. 4, the operating lever 18 isprovided with a gear segment 19, arranged to engage a gear 20 fixed uponthe rotary armature 21. The armature is understood to be suitablyarranged with relation to a magnet 22, and a commutator H can beemployed.

The auxiliary 'circuit 14, including the magnet O, of the signal box;the magneto-generator or generators; the alarm magnet; and the localbattery, is normally closed. The current over such circuit is suitablefor maintaining the local alarm inactive, but it is not of sufficientstrength to release the signal transmitting mechanism, and hence,although it will energize the magnet C, it will not energize the same toan extent to cause it to draw said armature against the springresistance. A slight operation however, of any one of themagneto-generators will send over the line or circuit 14 a quick impulseof high electrolnotive force, and this in supplementing the energyderived from the local battery E, which is constantly included in saidcircuit, will energize magnet O to an extent to cause the releasement ofthe signal transmitting mechanism. Upon such release of the signaltransmitting mechanism, it will automatically start up and send signalsto the fire department, as usual, and while so doing, will by reason ofa make-and-break device hereinafter described, repeat back to the localalarm F so as to notify the occupant of a house who may have operatedthe magneto-generator as aforesaid, of the fact that the street box isat work, it being observed that the makeand break periods aresufficiently slow to permit the bell to thus sound. As hereinbeforeexplained, the alarm F is sounded as a result of breaking the normallyclosed circuit 14. In order therefore to cause the signal transmittingmechanism to repeat its signals back to the local alarm, it will only benecessary to cause the signal transmitting mechanism while at work tomake and break circuit 14 in accordance with the signals it istransmitting to the fire department, and to such end the usual circuitbreaker 24, (Fig. 3) of the signal transmitting mechanism can forexample, be used to perform the further duty of making and breakingcircuit 14, and to such end it is included in said circuit it beingapparent that the closing of auxiliary circuit 14 by the make-and-breakdevice will cause magnet 11 to attract and hold its armature l0, andthat the opening of said circuit by the make-and-break device will causethe releasement of said armature as hereinbefore fully explained. Itwill also be seen that should the auxiliary circuit 14 beaccidentally'broken, the local alarm will sound and give warning of suchfact.

' When the signal transmitting mechanism is wound up and set, it servesto close the circuit 14, but should the signal transmitting mechanism beleft unwound for any length of time, the party within the building canstop the alarm by opening switch G, and if upon subsequently closingsaid switch the alarm should sound, it would be evidence of the factthat either the signal transmitting mechanism had not been wound up andset, or that the line 14 had become accidentally broken. As anillustrationof one of various ways in which the foregoing can beattained, the line or circuit 14 in Fig. 1 includes a couple of normallyclosed contacts 25 and 26, whereof the contact 25 may be either amovable spring or suitably weighted device. 3 When the signaltransmitting mechanism runs down, its crank or lever moves in adirection to engage contact 25 and separate the same from contact 26,thereby leaving the circuit open. Upon pulling down the lever, however,to set the signal transmitting mechanism, contact 25 will be liberated,and hence will again close upon contact 26, so as to again close thecircuit. It is also understood that this principle is involved in thesignal mechanism of Fig. 3, and that various other means which will beobvious 'to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates,could be provided. With further and special reference to Fig. 3, thecontact device I for opening and closing the local circuit has itscontacts 23 and 23 included in the auxiliary circuit, said contact 23beinga spring arm. When the signal mechanism runs down and reaches thetermination of such action, a wheel Kincluded in said mechanism reachesa point in its rotation where a stud 35 thereon will engage a-movablemember or pivoted dog L andthrow the latter into position to separatecontact 23 from contact 23 and thus open the local circuit, as shown.

In Fig. 7 the glass rods 36, are arranged at opposite sides of the crankor lever employed to operate the magneto-generator, and hence the lattercannot be operated without first breaking one of said rods. This servesas a check on unauthorized tampering with the magneto-generator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that should the signal transmittingmechanism be started by a party at its box, all neighboring local alarmssubject thereto will be sounded, and this will warn occupants ofv theseveral buildings of the presence of a fire in their neighborhood.

With further reference to the local alarm, the bell thereof can beoperated from the winding spring of a suitable clock or like mechanism,and in such case the battery 16, can be dispensed with.

As a simple arrangement Fig. 5 shows the bell clapper 27 subject to andoperated by a spring 28, in which case the armature 29 can be normallyheld by the magnet 30 in position to check the escapement 31 for anordinary escapement wheel 32. When therefore circuit 14 is broken, theescapcment will be released and thereupon the spring will unwind.

As another arrangement, the local battery E may also be used to operatethe alarm, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thus, when circuit 14 is closed,the armature 33 will be held upon the magnet 34. When said circuit isbroken, either at intervals, or by a dead-break, the battery E will becalled into use for ringing the bell, and to such end said battery isalso connected up with the alarm device by a normally open circuitsubstantially as the battery 16 of Fig. 1 is connected up with saidalarm.

In practice I also prefer arranging one or more galvanometers in thecircuit 14 whereby any undue increase in or falling away of the currentwill be noted.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a signal transmitting system, asignal transmitting mechanism having a suitable rcleasing device, alocal battery and a normally closed auxiliary circuit including saidbattery and releasing device, and a local or house alarm and amagneto-generator, both likewise included in said normally closedcircuitand a make-and-break device operated by the signal transmittingmechanism and arranged for making and breaking the auxiliary circuitwhen the signal transmitting mechanism is operated the said releasingdevice being operated to release the signal-transmitting mechanism by animpulse from the magneto-generator sent over the circuit andsupplemental to the local battery current, and the said local or housealarm being sounded by reason of the operation of the signaltransmitting mechanism, and also by reason of a break in the localcircuit from any other cause, substantially as described.

2. In a signal transmitting system, the combination with a local circuitincluding a local or house alarm, of a signal transmitting mechanismcomprising a contact device for opening and closing the said circuit,and a movable member operated by the signal transmitting mechanism andarranged to separate the contacts and maintain them separate when thesignal mechanism is in a run-down condition, substantially as described.

3. In a signal transmitting system, the com-

